Compare towns
Nelson vs Danvers vs Stoddard vs Francestown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Francestown has the most homeowners (95.3%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Nelson | Danvers | Stoddard | Francestown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 648Lowest |
28,098Highest |
1,072 |
1,398 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
53±4Highest 36% above U.S. |
51.2±4.5 32% above U.S. |
| Stoddard and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Danvers and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$94,904±$11kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$104,063±$16k 29% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
$644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$330,300±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
$408,200±$34k 23% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$895±$751Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,358±$256 4% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575 79% above U.S. |
$6,654 113% above U.S. |
$4,316Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$8,014Highest 157% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±77Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Francestown and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
42 minHighest 59% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.4%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #91 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Nelson School District | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Stoddard School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.